The Breath project (Project Number: 2022-1-PL01-KA220-HED-000089283) has been Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author or authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Foundation for the Development of the Education System. Neither the European Union nor the entity providing the grant can be held responsible for them.

Effect of a combined exercise program on physical fitness, lung function, and quality of life in patients with controlled asthma and exercise symptoms: A randomized controlled trial.

Sanz-Santiago V, Diez-Vega I, Santana-Sosa E, Lopez Nuevo C, Iturriaga Ramirez T, Vendrusculo FM, Donadio MVF, Villa Asensi JR, Pérez-Ruiz M.

Thematic Area
Management, Rehabilitation paths, Patients’ perspective
Summary
Background: Asthmatic patients may benefit from exercise training, although the effects of a combined aerobic and resistance training program are still poorly investigated in children and adolescents.
Objective: To analyze the effects of a combined exercise training (resistance and aerobic) program on aerobic fitness, lung function, asthma control and quality of life in a group of mild-moderate asthmatic children with exercise symptoms.
Methods: This was a 12-week randomized controlled trial including children and adolescents diagnosed with mild-moderate asthma and presenting exercise-induced symptoms. The intervention group (IG) performed the exercise training (resistance and aerobic) 3 days/week, for 60 minutes. The control group (CG) followed routine clinical orientations. The main outcomes were cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, lung function, quality of life, asthma control, and functional tests after 3 months of the intervention.
Results: Fifty-three patients (IG = 25 and CG = 28) with a mean age of 11.5 ± 2.6 years were included. No significant differences were found between groups regarding lung function, asthma control, quality of life, and functional tests. Ventilatory equivalent for oxygen consumption at ventilatory threshold (P = .025; η2 p = 0.083), peak oxygen consumption (P = .008; η2 p = 0.116) and test duration (P = .014; η2 p = 0.1) presented greater improvements in the IG. In addition, improvements were observed in leg press (P < .001; η2 p=0.36), hamstring curl (P = .001; η2 p = 0.217), high row (P = .003; η2 p=.167), low row (P = .009; η2 p = 0.128) and quadriceps leg extension (P=.015; η2 p = 0.108) in the IG.
Conclusion: Combined exercise training (resistance and aerobic) improved cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength in children and adolescents with controlled asthma and exercise symptoms.
Relevance
The present study shows that a combined exercise training program (resistance and aerobic) may improve cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength in children and adolescents with controlled asthma and exercise symptoms. The incorporation of controlled exercise training including resistance exercises as part of the treatment may benefit children and adolescents with asthma.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ppul.24798
Keywords
asthma; exercise; pediatrics; resistance training.